Rain didn't know how long he had been screaming. He could only sense the passage of time through the slow travel of the moon in the night sky. The moon glittered peculiarly as if in commiseration for his suffering. The pain actually came in waves, reluctant to let him get used to it.
When the sky started clearing and the sun appeared on the horizon, Rain remembered the words of the bandit chief. It seemed that he would meet his grandfather on the other side sooner rather than later.
His eyelids were getting heavier and just as he was about to fall into the final slumber, he heard something in the previously desolate village.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The footsteps were incredibly clear despite not being too loud. Rain resisted the call of oblivion and turned toward their source. Sadly, he couldn't see anything. He had been blinded by the poison. Although that was the case, he felt that they should belong to a woman.
Finally, the footsteps stopped in front of his lying figure. He heard the sound of clothes wrinkling. The newcomer most likely crouched before him. A voice that was so beautiful it seemed to come from the legendary Nine Song Bird broke the silence.
"Poor soul, how could someone do something like this?" The voice sounded shocked and compassionate.
If Rain could see, he would know that the one who spoke was a girl who was in her late teenage years. She had an aura that didn't seem to belong to the mortal world. She was akin to a celestial fairy. Her beauty could compare positively with the celestial bodies in the sky. Despite how she seemed to pity the world, there was a sharp contrast between her tone and the look in her blue eyes.
Indifference.
Yes, the look in her eyes spoke of indifference, even if the sky fell, her eyes would stay the same. Alas, Rain couldn't see that. He only felt grateful that he wouldn't be alone when he went. Someone would pity his fate and witness his last moments.
"Miss...I have one favor to ask. We...don't...know each other but I hope you can bury me with grandfather. He is in-" Rain asked, it was his last wish.
"Burry? You won't die." Her tone was firm and Rain almost believed her.
"Miss, it's too late for me, I can feel death's grasp, even the most competent healer won't-" He couldn't finish at that moment because he felt a soft hand akin to silk touch his forehead.
?
Suddenly a wave of warmth spread out from it and covered Rain's entire body. His battered body was like a dry land that was nourished by a heavenly rain. The pain that accompanied him for a moment now, melted like snow under the sun.
The providential rain washed away the pain in his eyes as well as the poison. The grip of death slackened and as Rain breathed in, he felt like he was breathing life. Although he couldn't confirm with his eyes he could feel the cuts on his body heal and the blood in his veins be replenished. His heartbeat had become stronger and more regular compared to the weakened state prior.
"Are you a goddess?" Rain couldn't help but ask.
"No." The fairy shook her head, her eyes still uncaring, "I am a cultivator."
Rain was shocked, he didn't think he would meet a cultivator in his lifetime. He had heard about them. They were mysterious being with terrifying powers, far above mortal limitations. Most importantly, they could potentially become Immortals if they attained great success in cultivation.
Even his grandfather had talked to him about them. Rain remembered that his grandfather had told him that if a cultivator couldn't do something, he just hadn't cultivated to a profound enough realm. Which is to say that there was nothing a cultivator couldn't do. But at that time, his grandfather had a bitter expression on his face. He had followed this statement with a warning.
Don't trust them. Jackals all of them.
Rain felt like his savior was different from the the type of cultivator he was cautioned against. She didn't need to save a mortal like him. She only did it because she was a compassionate soul. Maybe like there were good and bad people, there were also good and bad cultivators.
In any case, he couldn't bring himself to suspect this cultivator. She had just granted him a life-saving grace after all. His grandfather had also said that he shouldn't be an ungrateful dog.
"Gratitudes, Fairy. For saving my life." It wasn't that Rain was so attached to this world, he couldn't bear to leave it. He still hadn't avenged his grandfather, and leaving in this way while the murderers still walked the earth was unbearable to him. Because of this, he felt incredibly grateful to this woman.
"It's nothing more than what I should do. It's also your luck, I was passing by and stumbled upon this scene of desolation. I am sorry for you and yours. If only I had come earlier, the tragedy could have been avoided." She let out a sigh full of self-blame.
By this point, Rain had gotten into a sitting position. He said, "How can that be Fairy's fault? It's those bandits!" Thinking about them the cold fury in Rain's heart appeared again stronger than before.
The Fairy seemed to sense it and stroke his long hair in a comforting way. "Come, I will help you bury your fellow villagers. After which we will talk about what you want to do." She helped him to his feet. He noticed then that she was a head taller than him.
"By the way, my name is Purple Rose, you can speak to me casually. After all, I am only a couple of years older than you." She gently said as they walked toward Rain's house. She held his hands because his eyes hadn't been able to heal.
It was more correct to say that they had healed but their function was lost forever. His previously dark pupil had gained a pale, misty blue-grey color. From now on he was blind. The Fairy explained to him that she had heard of the poison the bandits cruelly administrated.
Its main component was an ancient root called the Heaven Blighting Herb. It should have disappeared millennia ago, Purple Rose postulated that it was most likely a remnant found in an ancient ruin. The most important point was that this herb had a permanence attribute. When used as an ingredient in a poisonous concoction, it could boost the lethality of the poison and make its effects extremely difficult to dispel.
Seeing Rain's somber look, she consoled him and said that if he embarked on the path of cultivation there was a slim chance that he would regain sight if his cultivation base was high enough to counter the effect of the Heaven Blighting Herb.
"You have talent, you can definitely succeed in cultivation. If you allow it, I would like to teach you." She sounded incredibly sincere. Rain was moved and couldn't help but wonder how could such a nice person exist.
He felt a softness in his heart he had never felt before walking hands in hands with Purple Rose. Her hand was so warm. Rain had never been subjected to such benevolence. Just as they arrived in front of his house, he turned toward where he thought her face was with a serious expression.
"I am willing if you'll have me." Rain spoke firmly, it was his only hope and he needed to avenge his grandfather.